My Sweet Little Flower Turned Out to Be a Sinister Ghost - Chapter 31

Song Yuehua’s eyelid kept twitching.

She didn’t need to think to know it was definitely Song Yuelan’s doing. No sooner had her card been frozen than she’d goaded their mother into coming to lecture her.

Staring at the flashing “Mom” on her phone screen, her finger hovered over the answer button for two seconds before decisively pressing decline.

Anyway, answering would only mean getting an earful. Rather than listening to something that would upset her, it was better to avoid the annoyance altogether.

On the other end, Mrs. Song stormed back to the villa in a rage, her high heels clacking loudly on the marble floor. The moment she entered, she flung her purse onto the sofa.

She grabbed her phone and dialed Song Yuehua’s number again, but the receiver only emitted a busy tone. After just a few rings, the call was outright declined!

“How dare she defy me!” Mrs. Song fumed, her chest heaving violently, her face ashen.

The butler stood nearby with his hands at his sides, breathing as lightly as possible, his head bowed even lower, afraid of becoming the target of her wrath.

Mrs. Song took several deep breaths, struggling to suppress her surging anger, her voice cold as ice: “Go to the garage and get the car ready. Take me to the apartment Song Yuehua used to live in. Let’s see if she can hide from me in person after dodging my calls.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The butler didn’t dare say more and quickly bowed before hurrying off to arrange the car.

Half an hour later, the black sedan pulled up in front of the old apartment building. Mrs. Song pushed the car door open, her brows furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly, her face full of disdain as she slowly stepped out.

“Go press the elevator button,” she said, pointing toward the building entrance.

When they reached the door, the butler stepped forward first, knocking lightly on the door with his knuckles, his voice neither too loud nor too soft: “Excuse me, is Miss Song Yuehua home?” After speaking, he immediately took a step back, standing behind Mrs. Song.

Mrs. Song’s eyes were already brewing with anger, her lips pressed into a thin line, ready to unleash her pent-up fury the moment Song Yuehua opened the door.

The door clicked open, but only a narrow crack appeared.

A little girl with pigtails poked her head out, her round face full of caution, her small hand tightly gripping the doorknob. Her voice was sweet and childish: “Hello, who are you looking for?”

Mrs. Song froze for a moment, her pupils instantly dilating.

Who was this child? Had Song Yuehua secretly given birth and hidden the child here?

A wave of contempt immediately surged within her, and the corners of her lips curled into a cold smile: Good, another mistake to hold over her head!

Just then, a woman’s cautious voice came from inside the apartment: “Tiantian! Didn’t I tell you not to open the door for strangers? Come back here!”

Mrs. Song felt even more certain, her cold smile growing more pronounced. It seemed Song Yuehua really was hiding someone and trying to keep it from the family!

But the next second, when the woman walked out from inside, wiping her hands and standing at the doorway, the smile on Mrs. Song’s face instantly froze.

The woman was wearing a floral apron and holding a half-washed spatula, clearly in the middle of cooking. She looked at Mrs. Song at the door, completely bewildered: “Are you looking for Song Yuehua? I don’t know that person. We just rented this apartment last week.”

Mrs. Song’s smile froze mid-air, all the reprimands she had prepared stuck in her throat, leaving her so embarrassed she didn’t know where to put her hands.

She forced a slight curve of her lips, mustering a polite smile. “Ah… my mistake. Sorry to bother you.”

“No problem at all,” the woman replied before gently closing the door.

Mother Song turned and walked toward the elevator. The two matters, Song Yuehua not answering her calls and secretly moving out, weighed on her mind like heavy stones, making her uneasy.

She had always thought of Song Yuehua as a soft persimmon she could easily control, someone who couldn’t possibly cause any trouble. But now, this “soft persimmon” had dared to slip out of her grasp. A sense of loss of control, something she had never experienced before, crept up her spine, leaving her inexplicably agitated.

It felt as though something she had always taken for granted was quietly slipping beyond her control.

…

After hanging up on Mother Song, Song Yuehua fell silent. She curled up in a corner of the sofa, oblivious even to Song Xiaomi weaving around her feet.

The kitten’s tail brushed against her pant leg, its soft fur tickling her ankle, yet she remained motionless, her gaze distant and unfocused.

“Meow~” Seeing no response, Song Xiaomi stood on its hind legs, propping its front paws on her knee. It gently nudged her hand with its head, its meows soft as cotton, and deliberately exposed its belly, hoping for a stroke.

Song Yuehua let out a soft sigh, picked up Song Xiaomi, and cradled it in her arms. Her fingers slowly stroked the soft fur along its back, her palm feeling the kitten’s warm body and the faint rhythm of its heartbeat.

“I guess I can’t keep lazing around anymore,” she murmured, lowering her head to kiss the kitten’s fluffy head. “I need to find a job. Can’t just sit here and eat through my savings.”

“Meow~” Song Xiaomi narrowed its eyes contentedly, a soft purr rumbling in its throat, its tail tip lightly curling around her wrist.

“I envy you, being a carefree little cat,” Song Yuehua mused absently, pinching the soft fur on the kitten’s paw pads. “No worries about money or troubles. All you have to do is eat, sleep, and play every day.”

But Song Xiaomi clearly didn’t understand her sentiments. After curling in her arms for less than two minutes, it wriggled free and jumped down, leaving Song Yuehua alone with an empty embrace. She smiled faintly.

Picking up her phone again, she opened a job-search app.

Since she still had classes to attend, most full-time positions weren’t suitable. She focused instead on part-time or hourly jobs.

In her original world, she had already obtained a French proficiency certificate and majored in English in college. She could easily support herself by taking on translation gigs online.

But things were different now. Those certificates weren’t valid in this world, she’d have to retake the exams. For the time being, she had to find a simple job to get by.

After nearly an hour of scrolling, she finally found a bubble tea shop near her neighborhood hiring part-time staff. The requirements were low, and the schedule could be adjusted flexibly around her classes. She immediately sent a message using the contact information provided and arranged an interview for the next afternoon.

The moment she hit “send,” Song Yuehua quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Leaning back on the sofa, she rubbed her temples.

Truth be told, she still had some savings, and she had prepaid two years’ rent, so she didn’t have to worry about housing in the short term. But she was always afraid of unexpected emergencies.

She had few hobbies and even fewer expenses. Usually, after setting aside enough for food and miscellaneous costs, she would send the rest to the orphanage director.

In her original world, Song Yuehua had been an orphan.

The director said she had been found on the steps outside the orphanage back then, with no information left in her swaddling clothes, clearly abandoned intentionally.

It was the director who carried her inside and raised her alongside other children without families. The director was a kind person; even though the orphanage was always short on funds, she made sure to give the best to the children.

When Song Yuehua was little, she was especially attached to the director. From the moment she learned to walk, she followed the director around like a little shadow.

When the director picked vegetables in the kitchen, she would pull up a small stool and sit beside her, tearing the leaves with great seriousness.

When the director told stories to the children, she would sit right at the front, listening with sparkling eyes, and even help pass the director her water cup.

The director never found her bothersome. Instead, she would always smile and praise her, “Our Yuehua is so capable, helping out at such a young age!” After each compliment, she would pull a piece of fruit candy from her pocket and give it to her.

Later, when Song Yuehua started school, she would rush back to the orphanage every winter and summer break, helping the director feed the younger children and braid their hair. In the evenings, she would sit by their beds and tell them fun stories from school.

Thinking of the director now, Song Yuehua’s eyes slowly reddened. The image of the director surfaced in her mind involuntarily, and she wondered if she would ever be able to go back.

Unable to hold back her tears, she let them slide silently down her cheeks. Hurriedly, she grabbed a tissue and gently pressed it to the corner of her eye.

But the more she wiped, the more the tears flowed. Eventually, she folded the tissue in half, pressed it beneath her eyes, and curled up on the sofa, knees tucked under her chin.

Knock, knock, knock. The sudden sound at the door startled her. She lifted her head abruptly, tossed the crumpled tissue into the trash, and called out hoarsely, “Coming! I’ll be right there!”

As soon as she spoke, she shuffled in her slippers toward the bathroom, turned on the cold water tap, and splashed her face with a handful of chilly water. The cold droplets dampened her eyelashes, barely suppressing the redness around her eyes.

She sniffled in front of the mirror, rubbed the corners of her eyes with her fingertips, and forced a slight smile, trying to look natural. Only when she was sure no traces of crying remained did she turn to open the door.

“Zhenzhen?” Song Yuehua said in surprise.

“Sister Yuehua,” Qin Zhen called out softly.

“Come in, quick.”

Qin Zhen stepped in hesitantly.

Song Yuehua unpacked a pair of disposable slippers and placed them at Qin Zhen’s feet.

“What’s wrong? Still not made up with Qingyuan?”

If they had reconciled, Song Yuehua guessed, Qin Zhen would probably have come with Bai Qingyuan.

“No,” Qin Zhen pouted.

Song Yuehua smiled helplessly. “So, you came here to hide from her?”

Qin Zhen grinned sheepishly. “And I wanted to spend time with you, Sister Yuehua.”

Song Yuehua asked, “Would you like cola or orange juice?”

“Orange juice is fine, thank you, Sister Yuehua.” Qin Zhen sat obediently on the sofa, hands resting on her knees.

“Sister Yuehua, what’s wrong with your eyes? They’re all red,” Qin Zhen asked with concern.

“Huh? No, nothing.” Song Yuehua had just brought over the orange juice when she heard this. Her eyes darted away instinctively, and she quickly reached up to touch the corner of her eye, lying, “I opened the window earlier to air out the room, and some dust must have blown in. I rubbed my eyes a couple of times, and they turned red. It’s nothing.”

Qin Zhen thought Sister Yuehua’s voice sounded a bit off too, but before she could think further, her attention was drawn by Song Xiaomi passing by.

“Wow!” Qin Zhen cupped her cheeks with both hands, her eyes sparkling with delight as she stared at Song Xiaomi. “Sister Yuehua, is this your kitten? She’s absolutely adorable! So fluffy, like a little ball!”

“Yes, this is Song Xiaomi,” Song Yuehua introduced.

Noticing a stranger in the house, Song Xiaomi’s ears perked up slightly. She moved cautiously, circling halfway around Qin Zhen’s feet with light steps. Her round eyes were full of vigilance, and even her tail swayed gently as she kept a careful distance.

“Is… is she not fond of me?” Qin Zhen quickly withdrew her outstretched hand, her voice tinged with timidity, afraid of startling the kitten.

“Not at all, Xiaomi is very well-behaved,” Song Yuehua reassured her with a smile, patting the back of Qin Zhen’s hand gently. Her tone softened as she patiently instructed, “First, extend your hand and let her sniff your scent. Once she gets familiar with you, she’ll be fine.”

Qin Zhen nodded, took a deep breath, and curled her fingers slightly before slowly presenting the back of her hand to Song Xiaomi’s nose.

Song Xiaomi tilted her head, sniffed gently, and lightly touched the back of Qin Zhen’s hand with her nose. After confirming there was no ill intent, she let out a soft “meow” and gently rubbed against Qin Zhen’s fingertips.

“She greeted me!” Qin Zhen’s eyes lit up with excitement, nearly jumping off the sofa.

Song Yuehua carefully picked up Song Xiaomi and placed her on her lap, gently stroking the kitten’s head with her fingertips. She then motioned for Qin Zhen to come closer. “Here, try gently petting her head, following the direction of her fur. Don’t use too much force.”

Qin Zhen quickly leaned in, cautiously reaching out her hand. Her fingertips lightly touched Song Xiaomi’s head, giving it a gentle rub. The kitten merely squinted lazily, didn’t pull away, and continued to nestle obediently on Song Yuehua’s lap.

Qin Zhen clenched her fists in excitement, her eyes practically overflowing with joy as she looked at Song Yuehua. She opened her mouth to speak but was too overwhelmed to form words, relying solely on her gaze to convey her happiness.

Knock, knock, knock.

Song Yuehua turned to look, then glanced back at Qin Zhen.

Qin Zhen’s joyful smile instantly faded.

“Should I get the door?” Song Yuehua asked tentatively.

Qin Zhen nodded dejectedly without a word, her gaze involuntarily drifting toward the entrance.

When the door opened, it was indeed Bai Qingyuan.

“Sister Yuehua, is Zhenzhen here?” Bai Qingyuan asked politely, holding two adorable teddy bears of different colors in her arms.

“Yes.”

“May I come in?” Bai Qingyuan stood on her tiptoes, peering toward the sofa where Qin Zhen was playing with the cat.

“Of course,” Song Yuehua replied, consciously acting as the bridge to mend the relationship between Bai Qingyuan and Qin Zhen.

“Sister Yuehua, what happened to your eye?”

Why is everyone so sharp-eyed?

Song Yuehua had no choice but to repeat the excuse she had given Qin Zhen.

However, Bai Qingyuan wasn’t as easily fooled.

“Alright.”

“Oh!” Song Yuehua suddenly slapped her forehead, her eyes lighting up as she deliberately adopted an urgent tone. “I just remembered, I still have an assignment to finish. You two can chat in the living room. It’s really important, and I have to get it done today.”

Watching Sister Yuehua’s clumsy acting, Bai Qingyuan felt a bit touched but was still worried that Qin Zhen might see through it and avoid her. She turned to observe Qin Zhen’s reaction.

Unexpectedly, Qin Zhen didn’t notice at all. Instead, she widened her eyes, lightly covered her mouth with her hand, and exclaimed in a tone full of surprise, “Huh? College students still have to rush to finish homework during winter break? That’s way too tough!”

Song Yuehua: …

She’d forgotten it was winter break.

“It must be an urgent assignment from the teacher. Since it’s so pressing, Sister Yuehua, you should hurry and get to it. Don’t delay turning it in,” Bai Qingyuan said.

“Right, right,” Qin Zhen chimed in understandingly. “Sister Yuehua, you should go ahead.”

Although there had been this minor hiccup, at least it had left the two of them with plenty of time alone.

Song Yuehua retreated to her room and pressed her ear against the door to eavesdrop.

But they were too far away, and all she could hear were indistinct murmurs.

Giving up, Song Yuehua lay down on her bed and started browsing for any part-time job opportunities nearby.

A short while later, there was a knock on her bedroom door. “Sister Yuehua.”

Song Yuehua sprang up from the bed and opened the door.

Bai Qingyuan and Qin Zhen stood before her, each holding a small bear.

“We’re heading off now.”

“Alright, alright, take care on your way.” Seeing them refer to themselves as “we” again, Song Yuehua knew they had made up.

After seeing them off, Song Yuehua started feeding Song Xiaomi.

Suddenly, there came another “knock, knock, knock” at the door.

Song Yuehua found it odd, why were so many people knocking on her door today?